It's been four years since the small group I was with fell. I left before either of them turned. In the years ahead, I had to survive by myself. I taught myself to shoot with deadly accuracy. Kyra grew fast. She is a zombie killing machine.

We walk outside together. I'm heading out to look for supplies. Kyra runs ahead of me. Three zombies are stumbling through the road. I ready my axe. Kyra weaves between the zombies before biting one of their sleeves and pulling them back. The zombies tries to break free from the wolf.

I bring my axe down on its head instantly killing it. The other two come at me. I swing the axe again. It cuts the zombie's head off. Kyra holds the last one down while I strike it in the back of the head with the axe. Those zombies must have been starved because that was surprisingly easy.

"Good girl," I say as I scratch her ear.

She's the only one who has stuck by me through all of this. I've joined many groups since this all started. They either fell apart or left me when I needed them. Kyra and I have always been better on our own. She follows me as we near the stores. I grab a cart from the outside.

Kyra jumps in the basket like usual. I push the cart inside. I keep my weapon in my right hand. I walk through the dog toy and toss a ball in the cart to keep Kyra occupied. I sprint to the canned food aisle.

A trail of fresh blood covers the floor. Kyra leaps out of the cart. I hold the axe in both hands. I slowly and quietly follow the blood trail. I turn to peek out from behind the door. Four zombies are eating a dead body. One locks eyes with me. It stands from its kneeling position. The others do the same.

"Come here," the zombie that is staring at me says.

Kyra charges at them. She jumps on one of them. I approach them.

I slash the one in front of me with the axe. It grabs the axe and is trying to pry it out of my hands. A fifth zombie runs at Kyra and tackles her to the ground.

"Get off of her!" I yell.

I rip the axe out of the zombie's hands. I strike it in the head. I run to Kyra. I grab the zombie by the hair and pull him off Kyra. I hit it in the head with the axe over and over again. Anger fuels each swing. I check on Kyra.

She struggles to stand. She has a bite mark on her front right leg. Can animals become infected? Will she turn? Is she going to...die?

She limps over to me. The three other zombies are waiting for me to attack them. I pick Kyra up. I carry her away. The dead chase after me. I can't bear to see her like this. I run as fast as I can. I make it to the cart and set her inside. I push the cart of the store.

Zombies from the parking lot come after me. I look around as the sound of gunshots echo through the parking lot. A woman is standing on one of the trucks. She shoots the zombies as they come closer to her. A zombie slashes at me. I move out of the way. Another gunshot rings out and the zombie drops. The woman saved me.

I climb on top of the truck she's on with Kyra in my arms. I pull out my axe. The zombies crowd around the truck. I bring the axe down on one of the zombie's head. The woman continues to fire the gun.

"Use a knife instead. The gun will just draw more," I tell her.

She pulls out a pocket knife. She stabs a zombie in the eye. More of the dead surround the truck. One starts climbing it. I swing the axe at it. It falls off the truck.

"We need to get out of here," I say.

I search for an opening or a way out. I look down. The truck has a sunroof. I slam the axe into the glass. It cracks. I hit it again. The glass shatters.
I jump into the front seat. Kyra jumps into the back and the woman takes the seat next to me. I grab the keys off the dashboard and start up the truck. I step on the gas. The truck runs over three of the zombies. They screech as the tires crush them.

"Thanks for the help. I'm Ava," she says putting her hand out for me to shake.

"I don't shake hands with people," I say.

"Someone's a germaphobe. It's not like I'm infected. Can you at least tell me your name?" she says.

"I'm Kyle," I reply.

I look in the back. Kyra is sleeping, but her breathing is fast and heavy. I turn into the driveway to my house. I help Kyra out of the car. I unlock the front door and bring her to the couch. I clean and bandage the bite mark.

"Is she okay?" Ava asks.

"She was bitten. I don't know if animals can become infected or not. I guess it's only a matter of time before I find out," I say.

I sit at the table and Ava sits across from me. She sets her gun on the table.

"It's funny how you let an infected in your home without even knowing," she says.

Her pupils dilate in a matter of seconds. She picks up the gun and points it at me.

"But you were shooting those zombies. Why?" I ask.

"I simply don't want any competition. I'm tired of fighting over food," she says.

"You shouldn't be pointing that at me," I say.

I can tell she's getting angry.

"You don't scare me," I say.

She growls before leaping over the table and onto me. The gun slides across the floor. She pushes my head into the floor and starts crawling to the gun. I grab her ankle and pull her back. She draws her pocket knife. She slashes my forehead.
Blood drips into my left eye. It stings bad. I grab her wrists. I twist her hands so the tip of the knife faces her. I push her hands back. The knife stabs her in the stomach.

She isn't fazed by it. Kyra carefully jumps off the couch.

"Stay!" I yell to her.

She disobeys the command and continues to limp over.

"Kyra, sit!" I yell louder.

She growls and continues to push forward. I throw the zombie off. I yank the knife out of her hand. I stab her through the eye.

I pet Kyra on the head. Some days I forget just how protective she is of me. I can't imagine losing her. She's like a daughter to me. She's my whole world. I can't live without her. We've been through so much together. I wrap my arms around her. She licks my face.